Paper-delivery mechanism.



M. A. DROITCOUR. "PAPER` DELIVERY MBGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED FBB.19,1912.

' Patented NOV. 4, 1913.

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7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. A. DROITGOUR.

PAPER DELIVERY MEGHA NISM.

APPLICATION PILED'IEB.19, 1912.

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PAPER DELIVERY MEOHANISM. APPLICATION PILED 1213.19, 1912.

Patented Nov.4,1913.

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M. A. DROITCOUR. PAPER DELIVERY MEGHANISM. APPLIGATION FILED FEB.19,1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

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M. A. DROITGOUR.

PAPER DELIVERY MEGEANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.19, 1912.

4l'zatented Nov. 4, 1913.

'7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

M. A. DROITCOUR.

PAPER DELIVERY MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.19, 1912.

.7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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. Patented 'N ov. 4, 1913.

M. A. DROITGO'UR. PAPER. DELIVERYv MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Hume,1912.

Patented N0v.4,1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

Mullin 'no sfrnrnfs rai-i IIICHAELANDR'EW DROITOOU'R., or Oak PARK',ILLINOIS, A'ssIGNon. 'ro MIEHLE PRINTING rniess AND MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .e

CORPURTION 0F ILLINOIS.

PAPERDELIVERY MEGFINISM.

Bpecieation of Letters Patenti Patented Nov. 4L, 1913.

Application led February 19, l1912. Serial No. 678,498.

attachment forA printing presses although,

the invention is not restricted to this particular use.

One of the primary objects of this invention is the provision ofmechanism for vpositively separating and withdrawing printed sheets froma printing cylinder, conveying the same to a delivery pile or stack' anddepositing the sheets on the pile in regular order and in uniformposition. With this end in view I have provided pneumatic means forseparatin the sheets from the printing cylinder an conveyiinrJ the sameto the delivery pile and have also provided mechanism for controllingthe operation of the pneumatic means so that 4the rear ends of thesheets of paper will be released from the carrier and deposited on thepile before the front ends are deposited, thereby obviating anypossibility of the forward `end of one sheet being caught under .therear end of a preceding sheet.

Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will beunderstood from the following description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings illustrating one practical embodiment ofthe invention.

YReferring to the drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of a deliverymechanism embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;Fig. 8 ls a diagrammatic. view illustrating the driving mechanism forthe perforated bands; Fig. a is a dia rammatic view illustrating themanner of c riving the valve operating mechanism which controls 8-8 ofFig. 1; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Fig.10 is a vertical septional view taken through one of the suction shoes;Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the shoe taken on the line v11--11of Fig. 10V; Fig. 12 is a view looking at the bottom of the structureshown in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 -is av fragmentary plan View taken on the line13-13 of Fig. 10; Fig. 14 is a side elevation, partially in section,showing one of the initial suction devices and the adjacent end of asuction shoe; Figi 15 (Sheet 2)A is a sectional view taken on the line15-15 of Fig. 10; Fig. 16 is a view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15;Fig. 17 is a transverse sectional view taken through the deliverymechanism just back of the brake device; Fig. 18 is an enlargedfraofmentary view taken on the line 18-18 of Fig. 17 g and Fig. 19 is asectional view taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 18.

On the drawings, reference character 21 designates a printing cylindermounted upon suitable standards or supports 22 provided with rearwardlyprojecting brackets or arms 23 u on which the delivery mechanism isypivotal y mounted, so that its free or delivery end may be swungupwardly or downwardlyv about its receiving end as a center,

as will `be later described. A. shaft 24, journaled attlie outer ends ofthe brackets 23, is surroiinded'by a sleeve 25 upon the ends of whichare fixed the blocks or castings 2G and27 and to these blocks aresecured the receiving ends of the side frame members 28 and 29. afterdescribed is carried by these side mem'- bers so that it may be swungupwardly out of position around the axis of the shaft 24, if-desired, Adelivery table 31 is suspended by vsuitable hangers, beneath thedelivery end of the mechanism, toV receive and support the sheets ofpaper delivered thereto ing cylinder. tweenthe side members is a.plurallty of suc- All of the mechanism herein'- -i Ition shoes 33, 311and 85, the receiving ends these suction shoes 33, 34 and 35 is dividedpartition Walls 42, 43 and 44 into four chambers or compartments 45, 46,47 and 48 of which the one characterized by 45 is comparatively largeextending, as will b e seen,'

from areceiving drum 37 to the partition 42 disposed substantiallymidway the lengthy of the appliance. Each of these shoes is made, aswill be observed from Fig. 1l, in the form of a shell provided on itsunder surface with a series of perforations 49. Around the pairs ofalined pulleys or drums 37 and 39 are passed endless belts or bands 5l,52 and 53, each being preferably made of metal and provided at intervalswith apertures or slots 54 obliquely disposed to pass successively overthe apertures 49 in their respective shoes whereby suction in the shoechambers, the apertures of which are covered by these belts or bands, ismade applicable to the sheets of paper through the slots in the bands.as having two series of apertures and two bands 52 are shown ascoperating therewith. The two series of slots and the two bands areemployed in this particular location to enable the devicev to handlepaper which may be slitted in the center inthe usual manner but,obviously, a single band y similar to the bands 5l and 53. may be usedin the center of the mechanism if unslitted paper is to be handled.

In order that the positions of the two outside suction shoes 33 and35`may be adjustable for proper action on sheets of paper of differentwidths l have provided each of these outside shoes with a pair ofopentopped internally-threaded lugs 55, one such lug being'shown in Fig.l0. The mechanism is provided with two comparatively long screws 56 and57 rotatably mounted inl the slde frames 28 and 29 and each having itshalves provided with right and left hand screw-threads disposed inoperative engagement with the lugs 55. In'order to bring about asimultaneous and equal rotation of these two screws 56 and 57 .I havevequipped each with a sprocket wheel 58a coperating with both of whichisa sprocket chain 58, one of the screws having an operating han'" dle59. Since the two outside shoes are slid' ably supported upon thecross-shaft 6l and the sleeve 25 it will be apparent that thesimultaneous approach or separation of these shoes may be readilyeffected by simply turning the handle 59. Since the pulleys or drums 39are carried by the arms 38 at one The center shoe is shown 1 end of theshoes and the pulleys or dnums 37 are splined to move longitudinally onthe sleeve 25 between the arms 36 at the other end of the shoes, thesepulleys and the apertured metallic belts passing around them will besimultaneously and equally shifted with their corresponding suctionshoes, sol that under all circumstances these belts or bands 52 and 53will be maintained in register with the perfo-rations in theirrespective suction shoes. From an inspection of Figs. 2 and 5 it will beobserved that the pulleys lor`drums 39 are smaller than the pulleys 37,consequently th'e delivery ends of the tapes are disposed in a higherplane than the receiving ends and the paper will be carried along withits forward end disposed above its rear end. The suction shoes, ofcourse, are inclined to correspond with the inclina tion between thelower edges of the pulleys v37 and 39. This inclination of the paper has'been found desirable for the reason that when the paper has beenreleased, rear end first, as will be later described, it will tend iasit falls upon the pile to glide or soar toward the cylinder end ofthedelivery table against the guides disposed thereon, thereby assistingthe joggers in making a straight edged even pile.

The sleeve 25 is given a variable intermittent rotation causing avariable and intermittent travel of the perforated steel bands or beltsby means of mechanism which I will now describe: The shaft 6l of thecylinder 21 has fixed thereon a sprocket wheel 62 around which passes asprocket chain 63 vencircling another sprocket wheel 64 on the shaft 24rotatably mounted in the side frame members 28 and 29. Upon the oppositeend of theshaft 24 is mounted a sprocketwheel '65 around which passes asprocket chain 66 also encircling another sprocket wheel 67 fixed on ashaft 68 mounted onA the side member 28 and carrying at its inner end a`similar sprocket wheel 69. A sprocket chain 7l encircles the sprocketwheel 69 and another wheel 72 mounted on a stub shaft 73 also carried bythe side frame member 28. T he sleeve 25 has fixed to one end thereof asprocket wheel 74, a similar sprocket wheel 75 being rotatably mountedon a stub shaft 7 6 carried by the side frame member 28 and va sprocketchain 77 passing around these companion wheels 74 and 75 has securelyvrfastened thereto three yokes 78, 79 and 81 each consisting, as isshown in Fig. 3, of a pair of parallel arms spaced apart. These :tionbeing such that as the roller 83 leaves the yoke 79 the chain 77 willremain stationary until the roller 84 travels fro-m the position shownin Fig. 3 to the remotest point of the wheel 69, whereupon it enters theyoke 81 and carries the yoke with it to the remotest point of the wheel72, thereby intermittently imparting to the chain 77 a variablemovement. During the period that the chain 77 and, consequently, theperforated bands 51, 52 and 53 are at rest the paper will be released atthe discharge end of the mechanism, as hereinafter explained.

Referring now to the means for applying suction to the shoes and thedrums mounted at each end thereof and controlling the action of the airit will be observed that the suction pump (not shown) is connected withleach of the suction devices through a main is also connected with thechambers 45 of the movable side shoes 33 and 35 through the flexiblepipes or hose 87 and 88, respectively, these ieXib-le connections beingadapted to permit the adjustment of the outer shoes toward and from themiddle shoe by the mechanism previously described.

A continuous suction is accordingly applied to the chambers 45 of eachof the shoes. By reference more particularly to Fig. 14 it will beobserved that the tape drums or pulleys 37 which are provided withperipheral perforations 37 and are mounted to rotate in proximity to theprinting cylinder 21 are each disposed in close proximity to thereceiving ends of its respective shoe chamber 45. A suction member orbo-x 89, (Fig. 14) having its hub 91 splined upon the sleeve 25, isdisposed. within the perimeter of each drum 37 with its open curvedmouth disposed adjacent and within the revoluble perforated rim of thedrum. The suction member is held against rotation with the drum by anarm 92 projecting from its hub which is connected by a link 93 with thespaced arms 36 at their junction. Suction is applied to each of theboxes through suction pipes 94, 95 and 96, the pipe 95 being connectedwith the main suction pipe 85 through a branch or connection 97 and thepipes 94 and 96 being connected with the suction by connections 98 and99 com municating with the chambers 45 of the side shoes 33 and 35,respectively.'

Since it is necessary and desirable that suction be applied to the boxesor suction members 89 intermittently only and at the time that a sheetis to be delivered from the printing cylinder, I have provided mechanismfor automatically controlling the suction to the boxes 89, which willnwbe described.

By reference to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that the pipes 94, 95 and96 are equipped with controlling valves 101,102 and 103, respectively,and the mechanism for intermittently opening and closing these valves isbestshown perhaps in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive. A cross-shaft 104 extendstransversely of the machine above the pipes 94, 95 and 96 and upon thisshaft in proximity to the valves 101, 102 and 103 are secured downwardlyprojecting curved arms 105 shaped at their `free ends to engage witharms 106 fixed to the stems of said controlling valves. The shaft 104,which is supportedl in brackets 107 from the frame is oscillated atpredetermined intervals to swing the arms 106 from full line to dottedline position, shown in Fig. 9 and vice versa, by a link 108 attached atone end to an arm 109 fixed on the shaft 104 and connected at its otherend with a lever 111 pivoted on the frame at 112 and adapted to beactuated by a rotary cam 113 which operatively engages a follower 114mounted on the lever 111. An expansion spring 115 normally urges thefollower into engagement with its operating cam. A shaft 116 upon whichthe cam 113 is fixed extends transversely of the appliance through thevalve mechanism 117, 118 and 119, to be later described, and carries atone end a sprocket wheel 121. Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 7, it will beseen that the sprocket Wheel 121 is continuously driven by a sprocketchain 122 encircling a drive 'sprocket wheel 123 mounted on the shaft 24and a companion sprocket wheel 124 mounted on the side frame member 29,the chain 122 being disposed beneath the wheel 121 and' in engagementtherewith and lbeing adapted to travel at a constant speed in thedirection of the arrow shown in Fig.

4. It will be evident thatthe valves 101,

102 and 103 will be intermittently opened and closed upon eachrevolution of the cam 113, thereby intermittently turning on andshutting ofl the'suction to the suction boxes 89. Thus it will be seenthatsuction is intermittently applied to the suction boxes 89 toseparate the printed sheets from the printing cylinder and that suctionis continuously applied to thechambers 45 of the suction shoes so thatthe sheets picked up by the perforated tapes or bands-traveling past thesuction boxes 89 will be carried along by the bands beneath thechamlbers 45.

.justment of the pulleys the links 126 connected to the arms 127 of thesuction boxes 125 are each provided, as shown in Figs. 10 and 13, withan elongated slot 127 through which a guide bolt 1,28 is passed tosecure the link to a guide standard 129. An adjusting bolt 131,projecting through an upwardly extending portion of the guide standard,is threaded into the end of the link so that upon turning the bolt t-helink and its corresponding pulley 39 will be adjusted longitudinally ofits respective shoe to apply the proper tension to its perforated band.Suction is applied to the .suction 'boxes 125 and the suction chambers46, 47

and 48 of the respective suction shoes through pipes 132, 133, 134 and135, respectively, the inner end of each of these tubes being connectedwith a valve casing 136 housing a valve member 137 mounted on thecross-shaft 116.

The valve casings and the valve members mounted therein constitute thecontrolling valves 117, 118 and 119 previously mentioned, each of thesecontrolling valves controlling the application of suction to itsrespective delivery pulley 39 and the intermediate chambers 46, 47 and48 of its companion suction shoe. Since it is desirable that the rearend of the p'aper loe released from the suction means before the'releaseol the front end so that the rear end .will first fall upon the deliverypile, thus obviating any p'ossibility'of the forward end of thesucceeding sheet being caught beneath the rear end of its precedingsheet, the control ling valve is so constructed that suction will beshut oft successively from the chambers 46, 47 rand 48 of the suctionshoes and last from the suction boxes 125, the forward end 'of the sheetbeing thereby sustained some little time after the rear end has beenreleased. vlo this end the valve members 137 of each of the controllingvalves 117, 118 and 119 is provided adjacent its periphery with anelongated arcuate slot 138, (Fig. 16)

the walls of each slot being formed to p-rovide flanges 139 adapted toContact with one wall of the casing 136. The rear ends of the suctiontubes 94,u 95 and 96 communicate with the casings o-f 'their respectivevalves 117, 113 and 119 on one side of the valve members 137 while thetubes 132, V133, 134 and 135 communicate with the casings on theopposite side of the valve members. Suction will thus be continuallysupplied to the chamber 141 of each controlling valve as will be evidentfrom an inspection of Fig. 15. As the shaft 116 rotates, carrying withit the valve members 137, the slots 133 will be first brought intoregistration' with the tube 133, thereby applying suction to the chamber46. Similarly suction will be ap plied to the chamber 47, the chamber 48and, lastly, to the suction box 125 through the pipes 134, 135 and 132as the slot 133 is member continues to rotate it will be appar-- entthat suction will be shut 0E from the chamber 46 first, then from thechamber 47, then from the chamber 48 and, lastly, from the suction box125, thus permit-ting the rear end of the paper to be first released andt0 drop upon the pile prio-r tothe release of the forward end. l

The intermittent and variable travel. of

the suction tapes and the mechanism for effecting this movement has beenpreviously explained in connection with the diagrammatic showing in Fig.3 and it will be re membered that there is a period, after one of theyokes on the chain 77 has been released by one of the rollers on thechain 71 and before the preceding roller has engaged with a succeedingyoke, when the chain 77 and consequently the suction tapes will remainstationary. ln order to prevent accidental movement of the chain 77 atthis period, which Would, of course, displace the position of the yokeawaiting to receive its roller mounted on the chain 71, l have provideda brake mechanism shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 18-and 19.Thisbrake mechanism comprises, as-shown, a braking member 142 pivoted at143 on a bracket 144 above the lower lap of the chain 77, the downwardfree end of the braking member being adapted to frictionally engage withthe chain 77 and thereby hold the chain against accidental movementduring the period when no roller on the chain 71 is engaged with itsrespective yoke on the chain 77. The braking member is yieldingly urgedinto engagement with the chain by an errA pansion spring 145 encirclingan adjustable bolt 146 threaded into a stationary base 147 above thechain. rlhe frictional engagement between the braking member and thechain can be regulated, as will be obvious, by manipulation of the bolt146. rllhe intermittent actuation of the perforated tapes is timed, ofcourse, tov correspond with the operation of the printing cylinder ofthe printing press and the sheets of paper will, therefore, be deliveredto practically the same point of the tapes at each operation.

Manifestly there will be a portion of the tapes betweenthe successivedelivery portions with which paper will not be brought Y from Fig. 1,thereby reducing the suction necessary to the successful operation ofthe device toa minimum;

I prefer to employ elongated slots 54 arranged diagonally of the tape sothat the interval between successive applications of suction to thepaper from the suction apertures in the shoe may be brief, and, in someinstances, I prefer to have the slots end and begin respectively on agiven cross-line on the tape so that the suction may be continuous. Thisarrangement of the slots is substantially illustrated in Fig..1. It hasbeen found also that this construction providesa more uniformly strongcarrier tape.

The operation of the mechanism `described is substantially as follows.:As the forward edge of the sheet of paper on the printing cylinder 21approaches delivery position at each alternate revolution of thecylinder the travel of the perforated tapes is initiated by operativeengagement of one of the rollers on the chain 71 with its companion yokeon the chain 77. Simultaneously suction is ap plied to the suction boxes89 in the tapey drums 37 by the automatic opening of the valves 101, 102and 103. The suction action of the suction boxes 89 through theperforated rims of the drums 37 and through the perforated tapesseparates the printed sheet from the printing cylinder, saidv sheetbeing carried along by the traveling tapes and held against the tapesafter it leaves the suction boxes 89 by the continuous suction in thelong chambers 45 of. the suction shoes. When the forward edge' of thesheet of paper reaches or approaches the chambers 46 of the shoes,suction is automatically applied 4to said chambers by the controllingvalves 117, 118 and 119 and as the sheet continues to travel with thetapes suction is applied successively to the chambers 47, the chambers48 and finally to the suction boxes 125 disposed within the tape drums39. When the forward edge .of the paper has been brought approximatelyto the extreme edge of thesuction boxes 125 the travel of the tapes isstopped by disengagement of the roller on the chain 71 with its yoke onthe chain 77 and further movement of the tapes is prevented by thefriction brake member 142. At approximately the time that the tapes arestopped the suction is cut ofi:l from the chambers 46 thereby releasingthe rear edge of the paper and, in succession, the suction is also cutVod from the chambers 47 and the chambers 48 thereby permitting the rearedge of the paper to drop a considerable distance toward the deliverypile before the forward edge is released by cutting off the suction tothe suction boxes 125. When the suction to these boxes is finally cutoif the sheet is permitted to fall and by reason of the inclinedposition of the suction shoes and, furthermore, by reason of the factthat the rear end is rst released, the sheet will tend to soar .or glidetoward and into engagement with the guides at the printing cylinder endof the delivery table 31 so that an even smooth edged pile is prduced.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinventionit will be apparent that various changes in the mechanicalconstruction and `in the size, shape, proportion and arrangement of thevarious partsmay be resorted to without departing from the substance ofthe invention or sacrificing any of the material advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a pneumaticdevice for withdrawing a sheet of paper from a printlng cylinder, meansfor supporting the ends of the sheet and transporting said sheet awayfrom said cylinder, and controlling means -for causing the 'release ofthe rear end of said sheet prior to the release of the forward endthereof, substantially as described.

2. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination ofmeans forpneumatically separating a sheet from a printing cylinder, a travelingtape, means' for pnematically holding the sheet against said tapewhereby and controlling means whereby the Ipneumatic action upon thesheet is discontinued sequentially from one end of the sheet to theother, substantially as described.

3. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a 'pair fperforated tape drums, a perforated tape surrounding said drums, asuction shoe dis'posed between said drums and adjacent the lower travelof said tape, means for causing said tape to travel around ythe drums,means for inducing suc- `tion through said ytape in the drums and in thesuction shoe, and means for automatically controlling the suction inlsaid drur'ns and shoe, substantially as described.`

the combination of a perforated drum, a suction box disposed therein, asuction shoe comprising a plurality o'fcompartm'ents and having one enddisposed in proximity to said drum, a perforated tape arranged to travelaround said drum and adjacent said shoe, means for applying suction tosaid suction box and said shoe whereby to hold a sheet by suctionagainst said traveling tape and means for controlling said slction,substantially as described.

5. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combinationof a pair ofperforated drums, suction boxes arranged in said drums, a suction shoedisposed between said drums with its ends in proximity thereto andcomprising. a plurality of compartthe sheet is caused to travel with thetape,

4. In a paper transporting mechanism,

V12pc ments, a .perforated tape arranged to encircle said drums andtravel adjacent to said shoe, and means for applying suction to thesuction boxes and the compartments of the shoe whereby to retain a sheetby suction in contact with the traveling tape, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a suction shoedivided into a plurality of compartments, a perforated drum at one endof the shoe, a suction box disposed therein, and means for inducing anddiscontinuing suction in said compartments and in said-box successively,substantially as described.

\ 7. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a suctionshoe divided into a plurality of compartments, a pair of perforateddrums disposed at the ends thereof, a perforated tape arranged to travelaround said drums and in proximity to said shoe, means for inducingsuction in one of said drums at predetermined intervals, and

means for successively inducing suction inl a plurality of compartmentsin said suction shoe and in the other perforated drum at. predeterminedintervals, substantially as described. Y

8. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a pair ofdrums, a suction shoe disposedv between said drums, a perforated tapearranged to travel around the drums and in proximity to said shoe, meansfor imparting an intermittent movement to said tape, and a device forpreventing accidental movement of the tape in the interim between saidsuccessive movements, substantially as described.

'9. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a pair ofdrums, a paper carrying device arranged to travel around said drums,driving mechanism including a chain for imparting an intermittentmovementto said paper carrying device, and friction means continuouslyengaging directly with the chain for locking the chain againstdisplacement during the intervals between the intermittent movementsthereof, substantially as described.

10. In a paper transporting mechanism. the combination of a suctionshoe, a pair of drums disposed adjacent to the ends thereof, a papercarrying device arranged to travel around said drums in proximity to andbeneath the shoe, and means for supporting a sheet against the undersurface of said device, said shoe and paper carrying device beinginclined so that the forward edge of the sheet being transported isdisposed at a higher elevation than the rear edge thereof, whereby uponrelease of the sheet the rear edge thereof will be deposited upon thepile in advance of the forward edge, substantially as described.

11. In a paper transporting mechanism,

thecombination of a suction shoe-comprising a series of suction chambersarranged.

end to end, drums mounted at each end of said shoe, a suction chamberarranged within each drum, a suction tube, connections between said tubeand each of said chambers, and means for automatically establishing andsuppressing connection between said.

suction tube and each of said chambers in succession, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of an elongatedsuction shoe comprising a series of suction chambers, a drum mounted atone end of said shoe, a suction chamber arranged in said drum, a suctionpipe connected with each of said chambers, and an automatic valve forsuccessively establishing and suppressing connection through the pipeswith said chambers, substantlally as described.

13. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a suctionshoe, suction drums disposed at each end thereof, a perforated tapearranged to travel around said drums and in proximity to said shoe,means for intermittently applying suction to one of said drums, meansfor intermittently applying suction to the other drum and to said shoeat intervals throughout its length, and means whereby the distancebetween said drums may be varied to tension said tape, substantially asdescribed.

1li. A paper transporting device comprising a suction cylinder havingmeans associated therewith -for limiting the suction area thereof, asuction tape on said cylinder provided at intervals throughout itslength with a plurality of spaced perforations, a suction shoe dividedinto compartments, said suction shoe having similarly spacedperforations in each of said compartments, means for causing said tapeto' travel on the face of said shoe, means for applying suction to saidcylinder and said compartments, and means for withdrawing suction fromsaid compartments in succession, substantially as described.

15. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination ofy a suctionshoe having a plurality of compartments, a suction drum at each end. ofsaid shoe, a perforated tape v compartments, and means for successivelyvarying the suction in said compartments, substantially as described.

17. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a hollowsuction shoe divided into compartments, a suction drum at the forwardand rearward end of said shoe, an endless carrier adapted to travel uponsaid drums and across the face of said s oe drums and said shoe, wherebya sheet of paper is held and transported upon said carrier, and meansfor releasing said paper from said carrier by rst destroying the suctionin said shoe and then destroying the suction in said rear suctioncylinder, substantially as described.

18. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a hollowlsuction shoe having a series of compartments, openings into saidcompartmentsthrough the face portion of said shoe, a suction drumarranged at the rear end of said shoe, an endless carrier havingperforations therein arranged to travel on said drum and substantiallyupon the face portion of said shoe, means for applying suction to saiddrum and said compartments, whereby a sheet of paper may be maintainedand carried by said carrier, and means-for releasing said sheet bydestroying the suction successively in said compartments and drum,substantially as described.

19. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of rotary suctionmeans Jfor successively withdrawing sheets of paper from an impressioncylinder, means for transporting said sheets successively, and rotarysuction means for successively causing said sheets to be released fromsaid transporting -means, ysubstantially as described.

20. In a paper transporting device, the combination of a pair of suctionelements, a belt carrier between said elements, and means forautomatically and periodically applying and destroying suction in saidsuction elements alternately, substantially as described.

21. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a pair ofrotary suction elements, a carrier between said elements, and means for.alternately and means -for applying suction to said periodicallyapplying and destroying suction in each of said elements, substantiallyas described.

22. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination of a pair ofsuction carriers arranged substantially parallel to each other, each ofsaid suction carriers comprising a fore and rear rotatable suctionelement and an intermediate carrying element, means for operating saidelements, and means for adjusting said suction carriers laterally toaccommodate various widths of paper to be carried thereby, substantiallyas described.

23. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a pairof suction carriers arranged substantially parallel with each other, andmeans for simultaneously adjusting the front and rear ends of saidcarriers laterally to accommodate various widths of sheets to be carriedthereby, each of said carriers comprising a pair of rotary suctionelements and an endless belt traveling on said rotary elements, togetherwith means for applying suction to said Vrotary elements, substantiallyas described. Y

24. In a paper transporting mechanism, the combination with suctionelements having a plurality of suction apertures therein of a tapecarrier provided with a `plurality of elongated slots disposeddiagonally of the tape and arranged with respect to each other so thatthe rear end of one slot and the forward end of the succeeding slot inthe tape are substantially in registration with one of said suctionapertures at the same time, substantially as described.

25. In a paper, transporting mechanism, the combination ofa suctionshoe, suction drums disposed at each end thereof, a perorated tapearranged to travel around said drums and in proximity to said shoe,means for intermittently applying suction to one of said drums, meansfor intermittently applying suction to the other drum and to said shoeat intervals throughout its length, and means for varying .the tensionon said tapesubstantially as described.

MICHAEL ANDREW DROITCOUR.

Witnesses:

C. I. MANSEN, CEAS. HICKMAN.

